CDRLabs.com

How do i tell my computer that my its a cdrom drive i have unistalled and installed it still unknown. I think it happened after i downloaded nero software. the cd goes in it spins like its reading it for about 10 secs then the light goes off and i check to see whats on the cd and it is blank

If your using Nero I've seen similar things if the Hardware is really new.
Make sure you download the latest Nero patch and hopefully you'll be
able to see it.

i just downloaded the latest nero and it says to when i i got to device manager its under the unknown tab. I don't know why my cd rom all of sudden gets unknown i might need a cdrw or something i use an ARTEC which i have seen a lot of bad reviews for it

I'm assuming too much for your PC. Are you using windows and if so
what version?
A lot of people would tell you to make sure you have the latest drivers for all your hardware in your PC. Make sure your windows is up to date.
Motherboard, sound card, video card etc...
Make sure your antivirus is up to date and check your system for the latest viruses. Download and check your system for spyware....usually
spyware doesn't affect hardware but....it can't hurt to check!
I don't know how old your CDRW is and I don't know your financial situation but locally here in the US your can get a decent CDRW
for about $20 (US) after rebates.
Hope this helps.

iam currently using windows xp the home edition i have norton systems works 2004, ARTEC WRA-WA48 is my cdrw. i was messing with the reg editor cuz i was on some site where it said to delete some keys then i delete them. Then it said to remove the device. i did that now it keeps saying that device type unknown. I think i can still burn cds but i can't read cds. i used nero to try to copy a cd with data on it but i says insert a cd when its already in it. I have been looking at cdrw on newegg.com for about 35.00 a LITEON LTR-52246S i thinking about getting i see nothing but good reviews on it. Yes i live in United States.

k now it reconizes cuz i reinstalled nero but it won't read the cd it spins then i go to check the files on the disk and blank under explorer.

I have the same Lite On CDRW and it works great. I have only one concern is that you said you were "tweaking" some of your registry keys
and you can't be sure that even with new hardware the problems will
disappear. Since your running win XP you could always use the
System Restore and restore your PC to a previous date to before you
edited your registry.

how do i do that?

http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/xp_notes.htm some said to go this site and look at the cd rom cod 39 or cd rom refresh error. But the cd rom is still doign the same thing it was before not reading cds i hit the eject on cd icon that works.

To do a system restore for XP home click on 'start' then 'all programs'
then 'accessories' then 'system tools' then 'system restore'.
Make sure you have a dot next to the 'restore my computer to a earlier time' then click on 'next' button and follow the instructions.

i went back a week but that doesnt help cuz i had the problem a week ago

If you can try it again and go back further... to a point before you made
the registry changes.

i went back to where i made the registry changes yesterday i went back a week ago. One day the i think it had to do with nero when i updated from 5.5 to 6.0 something happened now thats where iam at

Try uninstalling Nero.

still no luck its unistalled

Hopefully you can return your CDRW or you may have to break down and
get the Lite On like you suggested.

ya i ordered early thanks for your help man. but when i get it and install it i shouldn't have any problems?